Man posing as CM Fadnavis's OSD held for cheating contractor of Rs 3.25 crore

Marine Drive police in Mumbai have arrested Asif Ismail Pathan, 40, a resident of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He is accused of cheating a contractor of Rs 3.25 crore by posing as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to the police, the accused assured the contractor that he would get his stuck PWD bills worth Rs 50 crore cleared. He allegedly took Rs 3.25 crore as commission for getting the bills sanctioned. Even after receiving that amount, the accused is said to have demanded a further Rs 75 lakh.

The complaint was filed by Ranjitsing Oberoi, a contractor with Oberoi Construction in Akola. His bills had been held up for a long time. The accused allegedly first won his trust and told him he held a senior post at Mantralaya. Believing him, Oberoi came to Mumbai on the appointed day, September 10.

On that day, the accused, Asif Ismail Pathan, allegedly took Rs 1.25 crore with the help of an associate. Even then, he described himself as a senior Mantralaya officer.

The deception came to light when Oberoi went to Mantralaya on September 30 and made inquiries. He learnt that no such man was a government officer. Realising he had been cheated, he complained to the police.

The accused was produced in court, which sent him to police custody until November 6. Police are now looking for the other associates involved in the case. An investigation is also under way to seize the money taken and the vehicle used in the crime.

Police suspect that other contractors may have been defrauded in the same way. The investigation into this is continuing.